A common vape flavoring may disrupt early embryo development
A study from UC Riverside suggests that vanillin, a common e-cigarette flavoring, may disrupt early embryonic development. Researchers observed these effects in human embryonic stem cells, though further study is needed to confirm risks in humans.
Why it matters
The findings highlight potential reproductive health risks associated with vaping, which is currently under-researched regarding pregnancy.
Vanillin, a flavoring chemical commonly used in e-cigarettes, may interfere with normal embryonic development in pregnant women who vape, according to research led by UC Riverside.
The findings, published on August 12 in Human Reproduction , offer a possible explanation for previously observed links between vaping, difficulty becoming pregnant, and miscarriage.
The study was conducted in the laboratory using human embryonic stem cells -- which are similar to cells found in human embryos at about three weeks of development -- rather than in pregnant women. The researchers emphasize that their results therefore cannot prove that the same effects occur in women or developing embryos.
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